You will go to work, here is some information and thoughts that we want to share with you:

BEFORE LEAVING :

Notify the receiving association of your arrival time and flight number. If you are traveling by taxi or by train, choose a departure time as you arrive before night at your destination (in West Africa it is dark at 18:30).

Make sure before you leave (Air France, specialized hospitals like Salpetriere in Paris, vaccination centers, Institut Pasteur …) that you have received the necessary vaccinations.

Also make sure you have a passport and visa in order ….

TRIP :

For air travel, pay attention to what you carry in your hand luggage: no sharp objects, no liquids (or less than 100ml).

In some countries, a member of the partner association can pick you up at the airport; by talking with this person, make sure he or she is a member of the association waiting for you before leaving the airport.

Some companies are still requesting confirmation for the return flight. In this case, remember to confirm at least 72 hours in advance.

Do not accept carrying luggage or envelopes that you do not know about. Do not accept to serve as a link (transportation of documents, money, etc.) with a movement of opposition or resistance. This risk can not be taken in the context of an associative activity. You could jeopardize the work of SCI in the region.

A decent hotel is often expensive (30 to 60 euros). But it may be necessary to use it … so it is necessary to plan to carry a cash advance sufficient cash to cope with this need or others.

SECURITY :

It is appropriate whatever the country where one goes to be very cautious in the way one approaches the political questions and very reserved as for the problems of domestic policy. Contacts with groups of oppositions must be absolutely prohibited. Be careful not to negatively address policy issues related to living standards, poverty or economic situations …

Doing “sightseeing” or spending time in an area during times of tension can be considered a provocation.

If serious disturbances break out, do not join any demonstration, take shelter, either on the site of the building site, or in a house. Wait before going out that any incident is absolutely finished.

In any event, we strongly recommend that you contact the Consulate General or the Embassy of France on your arrival for a “temporary registration”.This is important, especially since, whatever the circumstances, this registration can ensure repatriation or at least encourage it.

Going out at night and sometimes alone in some neighborhoods can be risky.

We should also mention two sources of difficulties with the police to avoid: do not exchange money outside the official and legal circuitsnever buy kif, grass or any kind of drug: the merchant is very often linked to the police and denounces.

We warned you against the personal and collective use of even mild drugs. For reasons of professional morality, we can not accept the diffusion of this practice in a young environment of which we are to a certain extent responsible.Remember, on the other hand, that for a few grams of kif exchanged or found on you, you risk, in some countries, heavy prison terms in really traumatic conditions.

You should be wary of the bad ventilation of the shower or bath facilities. There is a risk of asphyxiation (improperly installed water heater). Also be wary of small charcoal stoves placed inside a room (especially in the Maghreb).

And finally, ATTENTION to level crossings that we forget to close !!

IF YOU WISH TO EXTEND YOUR TRIP:

We can not be held responsible, nor the local partner association, in case of problems outside the site.

Ask before leaving and at the premises, areas at risk (dangerous or prohibited). You have to learn about conflict zones.We ask you if possible to travel with another volunteer or a person familiar with the area.Do not forget to tell your family, your friends in France, your projects and your travels.

If you are in a zone of relative or serious tension … think that you may be confronted with traumatic events. It’s always shocking to see people fighting or killing each other. Try to think before you leave, if, knowing your usual reactions, you are able to assume such shocks.

Keep up to date with what is going on in the area where you are going. We also do it for your safety, but you must be personally informed.

If you decide to leave the construction site, the partner association and AMSED will decline all responsibility;

HEALTH

TAKE YOUR OWN INFORMATION FROM COMPETENT PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY DURING THE VISIT TO YOUR DOCTOR FOR THE MEDICAL CERTIFICATE OF ABILITY TO WORK ON A SITE.

As you know, a number of precautions must be taken with regard to health in a country in Africa, Asia or Latin America.

We recommend that you inform yourself for example at the Salpetriere hospital in Paris, in the vaccination centers …Ask a doctor if the area you are traveling to requires you to take an antimalarial.

Take-away medicine kit: basically, you have to provide:necessary to disinfect and heal: wounds become infected quickly in tropical countries, always protect them from a dressingAdhesive bandages (against bulbs that need to be treated quickly, provide gloves!)products against digestive disorders, anti diarrhea– vitamins C– aspirin or something else against fever– repellents and ointment against itching (mosquitoes …)– wet wipes

We draw your attention to the risk of disease transmission (eg viral hepatitis, AIDS, …) due to the multiple use of syringes and blood transfusions. If necessary (before surgery), you can ask for an autotransfusion preceded by a blood sample.

Water: avoid as much water as possible (risks of amebiasis and typhoid), including apparently pure spring water. If possible, wash the raw vegetables and fruits with the correct water. It is recommended not to consume ice cream or skewered offal (faith, heart, kidneys) that may be infected.Also think, in some areas, that by walking in the water, barefoot, one can catch schistosomiasis. Do not bathe anywhere (polio …), do not immerse your head.

Sun: hat and essential sunglasses – do not discover too much.

Vaccines: some are legally required. It depends on each country for example yellow fever in Burkina. You have to find out in a specialized hospital. In any case, the following vaccines are recommended: tetanus, typhoid, paratyphoid, polio.

Insects, Snakes, Scorpions & Co.: There are in almost all areas where you will go a number of nasty critters that you have to know how to protect themselves. You must be wary of grass and bushes, rocks and rocks that are lifted (wear gloves and do not sit anywhere).For this reason, we recommend you to wear solid and climbing shoes which have the advantage of protecting you also from the blows due to the work on the building site. You have to protect your legs by something thick enough. As for scorpions (especially in North Africa but also in other dry areas), do not forget that they have an unfortunate tendency to spend the night in shoes (shake your shoes in the morning!).On the other hand, if the site is isolated, you can check with the person in charge that precautions are taken with regard to suitable anti-poisonous serums if necessary and that the evacuation to a health center is planned.Finally, you can check here with a doctor the absence of allergy to insect bites or other, and see with him the useful protections to provide.

Handling tools: you are not professionals. Remember to keep a reasonable distance from other volunteers on the job site where you will be working. Especially when handling picks, ensure good spacing to avoid accidents. Keep yourself away from earthmoving machinery.

NOTE CONCERNING THE MEDICAL CERTIFICATE:

Given the specific conditions in which work is taking place in Africa, Asia or Latin America (warmth, less resistance from Europeans to certain germs, change of diet, fatigue and psychologically depressive effects of heat and change of scenery):

we recommend that you refrain from doing an activity in these areas if you are not generally healthy or tired, and take into account the need for a good psychic or nervous balance, and in a general way of a sufficient personal balance.

we recommend that you notify the doctor who issues you the medical certificate that you are doing this project or activity in a Third World country and during the summer. We ask you to mention on the certificate that you will send “your aptitude to a relatively difficult job in (country) and a good general state of health”.

It is necessary to inform your doctor who draws up the medical certificate, any current or past illness including chronic or progressive for which one is or was treated, because these diseases can “flambé” under another climate. Ex: viral hepatitis, asthma, allergies …

The stop must be avoided. It is to be excluded for girls even two, and anyway, it is dangerous because of the nature of the traffic. This can cause big problems of reimbursement by insurance.If you are traveling by car, pay close attention at night to people who walk or by means of transport without light. Motorcycle transport is not covered. It is better to choose public transport (bus, train, …).Beaches, especially those in the Atlantic, can be dangerous: you should never go alone (especially girls), or swim outside the supervised areas, the accident would not be covered.Are not covered also mountain accidents (rock climbing, excursion, climbing …) and the consequences of earthquakes.

INSURANCE:

You must provide AMSED with information about your insurance and a repatriation insurance certificate.AMSED subscribes to liability insurance.